298th combat sustainment support battalion army ten-miler shadow...

Volume 1, Issue 8

October 31, 2011

Army Ten-Miler Shadow Run

Members of the military as well as civilians participated in the Army Ten-Miler Shadow Run on Octo-

ber 9, 2011. The event was hosted by Task Force Spearhead. The Army Ten-Miler, the largest ten-

mile race in America, is held every year at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., with shadow runs held

throughout the world. (more photos on page 10)

298th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion

Photos by SFC Bonnie Hughes

Things That Make You Smile----

Some readers may recall that very early on in our

deployment here, I wrote an article about the

―little things‖ we learn to appreciate from home.

Conversely, the focus of today’s article will be on

the ―little things‖ at Shindand that make you

smile. While we all would much rather be in the

comfort of our homes, with our loved ones, there

are certain ―little things‖ that you learn to appreci-

ate about life on Shindand. I asked for input

across the team for a list of ―little things‖ about

Shindand that make you smile. Rather than offer

my usual commentary, my hope is that you can

―smile with us‖ as I list a compilation of little

things that our warriors appreciate here at Shin-

dand. The list is a mixture of both the ―comedic‖

and ―dramatic‖ things that we appreciate. I hope

that you will enjoy.

Things that ―make the LOGFIRE team smile‖:

1. We had our first rain in over 7 months

2. Sunrise over the mountain we have

affectionately proclaimed as ―Mount

Ward‖

3. Sunset with silhouettes of mountains on

both sides

4. New friendships with people who barely

speak our language

5. A new understanding of a culture that’s

often misunderstood

6. A tent that leaks, but doesn’t flood

7. Plywood

8. Not having to think twice about what

you’re going to wear to work tomorrow

9. Days when the dining facility has both

―Frosted Flakes‖ and ―milk‖

10. When you walk into the ―shower trailer‖

without 3 other guys waiting

11. The cool Autumn air

12. Having the technology to email home

13. The USO, and a great staff of Ameri-

cans who work there

14. Seeing the smile on a soldier’s face,

who you know just completed a 16-18

hour shift

15. Hearing people from other organizations

compliment the character of your sol-

diers

16. Seeing the look on a young soldier’s

face when they get their first ride on a

helicopter

17. The occasional ―authentic Italian pasta‖

18. The Post Office

19. New selection of reflector belts at the

PX. LOL

20. A day when the generator doesn’t quit

21. New selection of DVDs at the bazaar

22. The ―Cup of Joe for a Joe‖ program

23. Mail Call

24. Days that ―loose gravel‖ has been

graded on the road and the track

25. One NCO appreciates having his own

coffee grinder, and coffee beans sent

from donors at home

26. Going to chapel; and meeting new peo-

ple while there

27. A good cup of ―Green Bean Coffee‖

28. Meeting new leaders at the Base Com-

mand events

29. A clean port-a-john

30. The arrival of LDH Energy care pack-

ages

31. The Chaplain sharing ―New Release‖

DVDs, like ―Dances with Wolves‖.

LOL

32. Not having to do laundry or dishes

33. The smile on an Afghan kid’s face just

from receiving a used pair of shoes

34. Arrival of a new shipment of ―Near

Beer‖

35. When hot water comes out of the

shower head

36. Big pigeons

37. Mountains all around

38. When an Afghani knows more English

than I know Dari

39. The ―chop chop‖ sound of a Huey heli-

copter

40. The runway lights at night

41. Helicopter rides through the mountain

passes....you can almost touch the top of

the mountains

42. Steak and Lobster Fridays

43. The wind actually makes the heat bear-

able

44. Extreme darkness of night!! You can

see more stars, and the spiral band of the

Milky Way

45. There are motorcycles here that we

used to ride when I was a kid (60's-70's

models) that you just don't see back

home anymore

46. The 80's attire that the Russian TCN's

wear is cool!!

47. Different cultures at every turn

48. The hum of generators at night. Like

Hurricane Katrina, except no pine trees

across the road

49. More rocks than you can toss a stick

at....if you could find a stick

50. Concrete T-walls make an excellent

artist's background

51. Little treasures everywhere in the

dirt...like Russian buttons, buckles, etc...

52. People everywhere, but a solitude that

cannot be explained

53. Tents....at least you know it's only tem-

porary

54. The clean air (no ―poo pond‖)

55. Bartering with Omid at the "7 Eleven‖

56. Deciphering Italian emails

57. When the Dining facility is stocked

with milk

58. Getting emails from friends or family at

home

59. The Laundry and DFAC Personnel!

They're so friendly

60. The Joint Forces working together

61. The USO having Free Internet and

Phones

62. Watching the sunrise during an early

morning run

63. The character of my students who are

furthering their education, while defend-

ing freedom

64. The joy on the faces of the local school

children when receiving basic school

supplies

65. The courage of the local teachers to

continue teaching when it's not popular

among the Taliban

66. Knowing that the 298th CSSB has

made Shindand and RC-West a better

place, leaving a remarkable "logistical

footprint."

I hope that all of the readers have enjoyed our list.

Something that all members of the team try to

keep in perspective is that our attitudes are what

truly shape how much joy, comfort, or misery we

have among the circumstances that are dealt. I

remain honored to serve with this great team of

Americans who always seem to find something to

―Smile‖ for. We shall forever cherish the memory

of these ―little things‖, yet also long for the day of

reunion with our families, loved ones, and

―home‖. May God continue to bless the Warriors,

families, friends, and loved ones of the

―LOGFIRE TEAM‖!

Lines from “LOGFIRE 06”

LOGFIRE LEDGER

Safety is Key! Leaders ensure we treat all weapon as if they are loaded. Leaders continue to

supervise weapon maintenance.

Leadership: Make those hard right decisions and coach, mentor and teach your soldiers.

Standard: Enforce the standards, not just leaders but it is every soldiers responsibility. Remem-

ber when in a vehicle, buckle up and wear reflective belts during the hours of darkness and

while wearing the PT uniform. Watch out for your battle buddies at all times. Make sure you

and your soldiers stay mission focused. Section Sergeants, it is that time of year again to collect

your NCO dues. The association does a lot for the National Guard. We need to support it.

Again, thanks for your support and dedication.

I would like to say thanks to the Family readiness Group. Thank you for all that you do.

Logfire 9

Words from Command Sergeant Major

NCO of the Month

SGT Derrick Jackson JR.

602nd Maintenance Company

Volume 1, Issue 8

Congratulations to:

Soldier of the Month

PFC Jessica A. Holmes

602nd Maintenance Company

602nd

Support Maintenance Company

LOGFIRE LEDGER

Greetings Friends and Family members!

October has come and gone and out here at Shindand AB we

continue to move forward famously! This past month has blown

by us as we have participated in many events and even held our

Company Organizational/Sports day. But just as you all may be

experiencing the changing weather in the states so are we! The

weather is changing, as fall is in full swing! Here it isn’t any

different, the weather has gotten much more agreeable, we are

experiencing lows in the high 50s and mild highs in the low 90s,

and it has been a great improvement! I think the hardest part of

the adjustment has been what to set our thermostats at?

At the end of this month our Company in conjunction with HHD,

298th have organized a fantastic Halloween party and I am sure it

is going to be great! I will be sure and include photos in next

month’s newsletter; all our Soldiers are really looking forward to

this event, the 602nd had a lot of help in making this event possi-

ble! I would like to thank all the Families and Friends that sent us

a whole lot of Halloween Supplies as well as the NCO’s and Officers for making their contributions to fund our event. This past month, our com-

pany has participated in a Camp 5K and an Army 10 Miler and have been fully engaged in this seasons Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). So far

602nd has donated over $11,000 to the CFC! Which is half of the Base goal of $22,000! I would like to thank everyone for their continued support,

we appreciate everyone back at home, that continue to support us in our mission!

Thanks & God bless

CPT David Moreno Jr.

Volume 1, Issue 8

Chaplain’s Corner by CH Heather Duff

HOW MANY YEARS OF

SERVICE?

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard this question, “How many years of service have you done?” There is a reason that I can’t tell you how many times I have heard this question, “How many years of service have you done?” There is a reason that we equate “military” with “service.” In the military, these two words are interchangeable. As soldiers, we fight in order that we may serve.

Sometimes we lose sight of the servant

aspect of being a soldier. When we

lose sight of the servant aspect of be-

ing a soldier, we become very self-

centered. For example, we decide that

we will take a very long shower, and use up all of the hot water so the next person has to take a cold

shower. Or we decide that when doing our PT on the track, we really do not want to go out of our way

to throw our water bottles in the garbage can, so we just toss them to the side on the ground, and hope

that no one saw us. Or, we can become so frustrated with those that we work with, we decide that they

are not worth talking to, so we just ignore their presence. When we make these decisions that we are

here to fight, and not to serve, we become disheartened, disillusioned, and our actions are sown in dis-

honor.

As Christians, we are reminded again and again that we are here to serve. The Discipline of Service

means we are committed to serving others as Jesus called and exemplified. Our service is a response as

we look at what we do. This is about duty; it is about allowing our love for the Lord to cleanse us. Ser-

vice builds and prepares us to be stronger in character and in fulfilling our responsibility for His King-

dom. Service also nurtures and strengthens us as a means of grace; as we grow, we serve.

When Jesus took a towel to wash His disciples’ feet, He completely redefined what leadership and ser-

vice are. He made the point that they are not about pride or position in the world, but rather our posi-

tion in Him. A bowl and towel would be perfect because they represent service, as our ultimate Server,

Christ, washed His disciple’s feet. Christ came to serve to exemplify service. Mat 20:27-28; Luke

22:27; John 12:25-26; 13:2-5; Phil 2:1-4).

The same can be applied to service in the military. When we remind ourselves of our role – not just as

fighters, but also as servants, we become disciplined. We become strong in character and in fulfilling

our responsibility to our country. We strive to take a ―combat‖ shower so others will have hot water.

We do not mind throwing our trash away. We will always speak to those that we work with, because

we want to acknowledge their presence. Here in Afghanistan, we need to remind ourselves that as we

serve each other, our actions are sown in honor.

LOGFIRE LEDGER

After six months of waiting the TARSU

(TWL ROWPU) is finally up and running

here in Shindand. The TARSU is a civilian

water purification unit that is taking the place

of the military’s Reverse Osmosis Water Pu-

rification Unit (ROWPU). The bulk water

site used 3 3k ROWPUs to support the needs

of the entire FOB. Each ROWPU produces

on average about 30,000 gallons of potable

water per day. It will only take one TARSU

to do the job of 3 3K ROWPUs. It also pro-

duces less waste water and takes less fuel to

operate. This piece of equipment is relatively

new to military water purification. In fact

there are only seven of these systems in

country. The inside of the TARSU

Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units DynCorp worker giving a block of instruction on how to

operate the TARSU.

Volume 1, Issue 8

CPT Brownlee with his Business Communication students. One of

the classes that is offered at Shindand through the University of

Maryland University College.

University of Maryland University College Offers College Courses at Shindand

CPT Brownlee explaining the chapter details and possible questions for the final exam.

http://shdnc2afgn003:5908/Lists/Current%20Announcements/DispForm.aspx?ID=53



548th Transportation Company

LOGFIRE LEDGER

To the 548th Transportation Company, October signifies the ―half-way‖ mark. We have now officially been here 6 months. Things are moving right

along for us; we have kept very busy with missions, training OMLT team members on the MAXXPRO and MATV, assisting with the Kandak

School visit, doing a little bit of running, taking APFT, and in our spare time some of our Soldier have really enjoyed the various dance nights at the

USO.

We have had our 2nd platoon group from PASAB ―Dirty South Boys‖ join us here at Shindand,

and integrated them into the Logfire Convoy ways. They in turn have brought a lot of experi-

ence from running at night in Kandahar to share with our other troops; giving our Company an

even larger base of experience to pool from on missions. These missions have taken us to a few

new locations to our north this month, to include Turagundy and Montserrat.

We have also been assisting the

OMLT team as they bring in

their new Soldiers with getting

them trained up on the MAXX-

PRO and the MATV vehicles.

This is one task that the Sol-

diers of the 548th Transportation take to heart as it is a key part of their mission.

548th Transportation Company provided security and logistical support for the Kan-

dak School visit in October ensuring that all safety aspects of the trip were covered

as well as all the supplies meant for the school were delivered without incident. The

Soldiers really enjoyed this project as it allowed them to give back to the Afghani-

stan people and make a difference in the lives of the children; hopefully changing

the way they will turn

out later on.

548th Transportation Company had several Soldiers participate in the 10-miler. These

Soldiers got up early to embrace the morning sunrise with a quick 10 mile run. This

helped some of them prepare for their APFT; like SFC Blanscet who scored a 300 on

his APFT after participating in the 10-miler (not in the same day of course). All the

platoons have worked really hard preparing for their APFT and are showing the pay-

off with good results on their APFT… Deployment has been good for that!!!

And last but not least, in their spare time, we have the USO dance nights that several

Soldiers have been participating in. We have one star that outshines them all at the

USO dance night, SFC Seib. It doesn’t matter if it is Salsa, Country, R&B, or Hi-

pHop; SFC Seib is out there kicking it up and showing everyone how it is done. He

says we all have to cut loose and have some fun!

Volume 1, Issue 8

Army Ten-Miler Shadow Run

298th CSSB participants

LOGFIRE LEDGER

The 298th Logfire Team along with members of the Italian Army visited the Kandak Middle School to distribute school

supplies. There were many smiles and high-fives exchanged during the visit with the kids.

Volume 1, Issue 8


Army Physical Fitness Test in Shindand Afghanistan

Hoooah!

LOGFIRE LEDGER

Volume 1, Issue 8


Born Again on September 25, 2011

Volume 1, Issue 8

SGT Jarvis Williams of the 377th is a special soldier. He is

young, fit and amazingly resilient. As a soldier, he tries to be his

very best. And his very best includes spiritual fitness as well as

physical and mental fitness. He talked with several older, mature

Christians about his walk of faith. He talked with Chief Revette,

pastor of a church in Mississippi. He talked with his Company

First SGT, SFC Taylor. And he talked with his Chaplain, CPT

Heather Duff. His enthusiasm was infectious. He infected all of

those he talked to with enthusiasm to renew the spirit within them

– to come clean and make a new life.

He asked to be baptized. He wanted a physical expression of

what was going on spiritually in his life. It took several people

working together in order to make his wish a reality. Trying to

find water in the desert is challenging at best. First of all, a con-

tainer big enough to hold an adult had to be found. An old tarp

was donated for the purpose. Then the tarp had to be laid out and

surrounded by sandbags, to keep the water in. Finally, SGT William’s unit took responsibility for delivering 200 gallons of water on

the day he was to be baptized. This group effort refreshed the spirit of all of those involved and all felt the renewal of spirit.

He was ―Born Again‖ on September 23, 2011 in front of Shindand Chapel.

Volume 1, Issue 8

Brigadier General Carroll and Command Sergeant Major Williams from JSC-A visit the Logfire Team

LOGFIRE LEDGER

1LT McDuffey with Chaplain Duff and SPC Smith

after he brought the message during Sunday Gospel

Service at Shindand Chapel

Logfire Team prepares to pack school supplies to be deliv-

ered to a local Afghan school.

CPT Barber leads a song as Shindand Gospel Choir performs at

Sunday services

Shindand Contemporary Choir

Safety Message

Volume 1, Issue 8

DON’T SHOOT!

It was a crisp fall morning as I headed out to a large pond on post to try

and bag a duck. I worked my way around the east side of the pond to a

promising area. My single-shot 20-gauge lacked the range of a 12-gauge,

so I needed to get close to have any chance at success.

I was just about where I wanted to be when I suddenly heard the loud

crack of a high-powered rifle from across the pond. The bullet ricocheted

off the water near a duck and passed within a few feet of me. Talk about

an instant pucker factor! When the shooter immediately chambered an-

other round, I could tell by the sound it was a lever-action rifle — proba-

bly a .30-30. He took another quick shot and I ducked, once again hear-

ing the bullet pass nearby. Now I was angry. I raised my shotgun’s muz-

zle and fired off a round, then quickly reloaded and fired a second shot.

Since ducks don’t pack shotguns, I figured the idiot would realize he’d

just put another hunter in danger. I couldn’t believe someone was dumb

enough to try and shoot ducks with a .30-30. He stopped firing, and I

quickly worked my way back to where I’d parked on a dirt road. I got to

a phone and called the provost marshal’s office, hoping the MPs could

get there fast enough to arrest the guy before he left. As it turned out,

they did; he lost his rifle and paid a hefty fine. As far as I was concerned,

it served him right. My experience that morning was hardly unique. Tur-

key season where I lived was known for hunters hearing a sound and

shooting before identifying their target. Occasionally they’d end up

―bagging‖ each other instead of the bird.

Since it’s no fun to be on either end of the barrel when an accident hap-

pens, here are some tips to keep you safe this hunting season:

Never shoot at a movement, sound or what you assume to be fur or

feathers. Ensure you can clearly see and identify the animal you

intend to shoot, including the correct body part for a kill shot. If

you’re not 100 percent sure, don't shoot.

Before pulling the trigger, take a moment to look beyond the animal

to ensure your shot won’t endanger others should you miss or your

bullet pass through the animal.

Use the appropriate weapon for the game you’re after and the area

in which you’re hunting. Some areas are restricted to shotguns be-

cause their relatively short range reduces risks to others who may

be hunting in the same area. Illegally using a rifle in such areas puts

others at great risk.

Always wear a sufficient amount of blaze orange when and where

it’s required so you’ll be visible to other hunters.

Turkey and waterfowl hunters aren’t required to wear blaze orange

because it would hinder their ability to lure game within range.

However, it’s a good idea for turkey hunters to wear a blaze orange

cap when moving through the woods between setups just in case

other hunters are in the area. Also, most turkey vests have a stowed

blaze orange panel that can be used when moving through the

woods.

Carry your decoys (or harvested game) in a bag to reduce the risk of

other hunters mistaking them for live animals. Never carry an ani-

mal such as a deer over your shoulders through the woods because

a hunter may fire, mistaking it for a live animal. To be safe, drag

larger animals out.

When hunting turkeys, never wear red, white or blue (such as an

American flag patch/emblem) as these are the same as the male

gobbler’s head — the kill shot when taking turkeys.

As you stalk game, be aware your stealthy movements may sound

like those of an animal to another hunter. Pause every now and then

to observe the area around you for other hunters in tree stands or

ground blinds. If you see another hunter, show some blaze orange

— especially if you’re in full camouflage hunting turkeys — so he

or she can see you, and then move out of the area. When wearing

camouflage, avoid waving to other hunters as they could mistake

your movements for something else.

Good communication and coordination are important when hunting

with others. Ensure everyone in the hunting party is aware of each

other’s movements at all times.

When hunting on public lands or where there is little control over

individual hunters, pay attention to the little details. Note how many

other vehicles are parked near the area you intend to hunt. If there

are too many other hunters in the area, find another location. This is

especially important if you haven’t made prior agreements with

those other hunters. Since you don’t know whether they’re safety

conscious, it’s better to err on the side of caution.

Take notice of the litter you find. Empty beer cans and whiskey

bottles are a sign you may be in an area where irresponsible people

are hunting. Find a safer place to hunt and report such findings to

game wardens or other authorities.

To all of my hunters that are out there, please be safe this hunting sea-

son. Follow these tips in order to have a wonderful time while hunting

and return to your home to enjoy the game that was caught in the cross-

hairs.

CW2 James Ballard

“Families that are Army Safe, are Army Strong!

We’re on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/page

s/298th-CSSB/126140340773566

Top Signs That You're Too Old to Trick or Treat

You get winded from knocking on the door.

You have to have another kid chew the candy for

you.

You ask for high fiber candy only.

When someone drops a candy bar in your bag,

you lose your balance and fall over.

People say, "Great Keith Richards mask!" and

you're not wearing a mask.

When the door opens you yell, "Trick or..." and

can't remember the rest.

You have to carefully choose a costume that won't

dislodge your hairpiece.

You're the only Power Ranger in the neighbor-

hood with a walker.

Thought For The Day On The Funny Side

An eye for an eye

only ends up making

the whole world

blind.

Promotions: (298th)

MSG Sledge

SFC Shows

SPC Kincaid

SGT Alexander

Another addition to our “Unsung Heroes”

We are all probably familiar with the Peanuts

character Snoopy, Charlie Brown’s ever so cool

dog, . Snoopy was given to SSG Duncan by his

daughter and he takes him along throughout his

travels in Afghanistan. His son gave him a char-

acter he calls ―Scrappy ‖. His son felt that

Snoopy needed a playmate while he was away.

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/an_eye_for_eye_only_ends_up_making_the_whole/215078.html




298th combat sustainment support battalion army ten-miler shadow...

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